Capsule For Making Beverages

Abstract

A capsule (1) containing a powdered food substance which can be extracted by passing water through it to make a beverage comprises a body (2) comprising a lower wall (3) and a lateral wall (4), and a lid (6) fixed to the body (2). The lid (6) and a central portion (8) of the lower wall (3) are pierceable respectively to allow the injection of water into and the extraction of a beverage from the capsule (1). Between the lid (6) and the lower wall (3), and in a position close to the latter, there is a filter (9), permeable to the beverage, which retains the powdered food substance, the filter being at least mainly made of a layered sheet of flexible material fixed to the body (2), and separating the powdered food substance at least from the central portion (8). The sheet of flexible material is shaped to form, substantially at the central portion (8), at least one projection (10) towards the lid (6). At the projection (10) the filter (9) is distanced from the central portion (8) and there is a compartment (12), located between the filter (9) and the central portion (8), where a piercing element can be inserted following penetration through the central portion (8), without damaging the filter (9).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This invention relates to a capsule for making beverages. In particular reference is made to those capsules comprising a body and a lid which closes the top of the body. Inside the capsule there is a powdered food substance (for example coffee powder), which can be extracted by passing water (which may be pressurised) through it to make a beverage, for example coffee. More specifically reference is made to those capsules in which the body comprises a lower wall and a lateral wall, and which inside them have a filter interposed between the lower wall and the lid for separating the powdered food substance at least from a relevant portion of the lower wall.[0002]In more detail, reference is made to those capsules suitable for use in beverage making systems in which the capsule is pierced at the lid, to allow the injection of water (which may be pressurised) into the capsule itself, and at a central portion of the lower wall (the relevant portion), to allow dispensi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a capsule for making beverages with a low-cost filter. It can be used with various methods for piercing or cutting the lower wall. The technical effects are cost reduction and versatility in usage methods.

Problems solved by technology

However, rigid or semi-rigid filters have high production costs linked first to the mould needed to make them.

The production of rigid or semi-rigid filters having complex structures, for example in which openings, holes or passages are made, or projections, further increases the production costs.

Moreover, added to those costs are the costs directly linked to the intrinsic cost of the material used to make the filter.

However, in some cases the filter may be damaged, for example cut by the piercing element, although the outflow of powder is substantially prevented by the interference between the piercing element and the edges of the filter surrounding the cut made by it.

However, this prior art technology has several disadvantages.

In fact, capsules such as those described above are not compatible with all beverage making systems and in particular they are not compatible with some capsule lower wall piercing methods.

In fact, in systems in which the piercing element is particularly sharp, or in systems in which the thrust applied by the piercing element on the lower wall is particularly great, the piercing element can easily cause a tear in the filter.

In such a situation, during the subsequent dispensing, together with the beverage part of the powdered food substance also comes out, making the beverage dispensed undrinkable and increasing the risk of blockage of the system dispensing pipes and of malfunctions in the devices connected to them.

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